Who Is Babu Owino? From Student Politics to the Nairobi Governor Race

Babu Owino (Embakasi East), born Paul Ongili Owino, has been an MP since 2017. By 23 September 2026 he had announced a run for Nairobi governor in 2027, leaving the presidency for later, on The Mwananchi Party. That is the registered Muungano Party, which gave notice in August 2026 that it was changing its name. He is also among the loudest backers of Edwin Sifuna (Senator, Nairobi) for president.

Early life and student politics

Wikipedia records that Owino was born on 10 October 1989 and went to Kisumu Boys' Secondary School from 2003 to 2006. He studied actuarial science at the University of Nairobi from 2008, graduating with first-class honours in 2012, and later took a law degree there. He was admitted as an advocate of the High Court on 23 May 2025.

He made his name on campus. The Students Organisation of Nairobi University (SONU) elected him chairperson in 2011, and the "Babu" name went with him into national politics, along with the combative style.

Two terms in Embakasi East

Owino won Embakasi East on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket in the August 2017 general election and was re-elected in August 2022. On Radio Jambo on 12 August 2026, as The Star reported, he said he had planned the sequence while still a student. Two terms as MP, then governor in 2027 and the presidency in 2032. "Mimi mwenyewe nitaenda rais 2032. 2027 nimewachana nayo," he said. In defence of his record he listed road projects in Mihango ward and a bursary programme.

There has been trouble with the law too. In January 2020 he was arrested and charged with attempted murder after DJ Felix Orinda, known as DJ Evolve, was shot at a Nairobi nightclub; Owino said he acted in self-defence. Wikipedia records that he reached a civil settlement with Orinda in December 2021.

In January 2026 The Standard reported a confrontation between Owino and Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai at a Kilimani restaurant. Owino described it as an unprovoked attack.

Linda Mwananchi and the party question

After ODM removed Sifuna as Secretary-General in February 2026, Owino became one of the central figures in the Linda Mwananchi movement, alongside Sifuna and James Orengo (Governor, Siaya). He spoke at the movement's Nairobi rally at Jacaranda Grounds, in Embakasi East, on 13 September 2026.

Linda Mwananchi is not a registered party and cannot put anyone on a ballot. Owino's answer was a name change. A Gazette notice dated 24 August 2026 said Muungano Party, which is linked to Kivutha Kibwana (Governor, Makueni), intended to change its name to The Mwananchi Party. At a burial in Central Nyakach, Kisumu County, on 18 September 2026, Owino announced it as his 2027 vehicle.

That put him at odds with George Natembeya (Governor, Trans Nzoia), who backed the Ukombozi People's Party as the movement's vehicle. The Nation reported the split on 17 September.

Owino told reporters on 15 September that he backed Sifuna's presidential bid "100 per cent" and was scaling down his role in Linda Mwananchi rallies to focus on Nairobi. A week later, on 22 September, he claimed The Mwananchi Party had 98,365 members who had joined through the *509# USSD code. Nobody has independently verified the figure.

Where the Nairobi race stood

Every published Nairobi governor poll we found for 2026 has Owino ahead. The margins vary a lot from one pollster to the next.

The Mizani poll gave a margin of error of 2.3 points, which leaves Owino and Kagure statistically level in it. In an analysis on 20 September The Star named the main contest as James Gakuya (Embakasi North) of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) against Owino and Margaret Wanjiru (Starehe). Our earlier breakdown of the Nairobi governor polls sets out the April numbers in detail.

The ODM ticket was never his for the asking. Nairobi branch chair George Aladwa (Makadara) wanted it himself, and in July Junet Mohamed (Suna East) said ODM's preferred Nairobi candidate was someone other than Owino. As of 23 September 2026 it was unsettled whether Owino would run on The Mwananchi Party alone or inside a wider coalition.

Deadlines ahead

The Mwananchi Party has to meet the Registrar's calendar like any other party. Nomination rules were due with the Registrar of Political Parties between late September and 16 October 2026, with certification by 30 October, as set out in the two party deadlines.

Then there is the vehicle question: one party for Linda Mwananchi, or two. For the movement's background, see Sifuna's break with ODM and why a movement needs a party.